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North Carolina
Related: About this forumThe Republican Power Grab in North Carolina
Its not often that 250 people pack in to see the city council in Asheville, N.C., in the middle of a workday. Yet there they were on the afternoon of April 3, when the citys elected officials met with citizens to discuss a plan by the Republican-led General Assembly in Raleigh to take control of the citys water systems. The lawmakers want to hand it over to a new multi-county board that would be appointed largely by the state legislature. Asheville wouldnt be compensated for lost revenue from water bills, leaving the city of 84,000 with a $3 million shortfall that would force cuts to city services.
Since January, Republicans in the General Assembly have introduced a series of bills that would curtail the ability of Democratic-led cities and urban counties to govern themselves. GOP legislators say Charlottes City Council can no longer be trusted to manage Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a major hub. They want an appointed regional authority to run it. The Charlotte Airport has become a multibillion-dollar effort, says State Senator Bob Rucho, the bills main sponsor. Were concerned and want to be sure you have the best minds and most experienced individuals in place to move that forward to get the most economic value derived from it.
Theres not much cities can do to stop the lawmakers. The state constitution grants the legislators broad powers to intervene in city affairs without the approval of the governor, as long as the changes dont affect more than 15 percent of the counties in the state. Historically the legislature gave local governments wide latitude in controlling their own affairs. Thats changed since 2010, when Republicans took control of the state legislature for the first time in a century. GOP Governor Pat McCrory, the former Charlotte mayor who took office this year, has conspicuously kept his distance from whats happening in his hometown. The governor has stayed out of it because its a local matter that doesnt require the governors signature, says his communications director, Kim Genardo.
At least one Republican lawmaker has openly expressed a desire to dilute the power of mayors. There is a definite feeling that cities have too much power and want to control everything, State Senator Tom Apodaca told the Charlotte Observer. Mayor Foxx says theres a certain irony in watching conservative Republicans argue against local control. I think the legislature would be concerned if the feds started dictating to them, he says. Yet theyre doing to us what they claim they dislike.
Since January, Republicans in the General Assembly have introduced a series of bills that would curtail the ability of Democratic-led cities and urban counties to govern themselves. GOP legislators say Charlottes City Council can no longer be trusted to manage Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a major hub. They want an appointed regional authority to run it. The Charlotte Airport has become a multibillion-dollar effort, says State Senator Bob Rucho, the bills main sponsor. Were concerned and want to be sure you have the best minds and most experienced individuals in place to move that forward to get the most economic value derived from it.
Theres not much cities can do to stop the lawmakers. The state constitution grants the legislators broad powers to intervene in city affairs without the approval of the governor, as long as the changes dont affect more than 15 percent of the counties in the state. Historically the legislature gave local governments wide latitude in controlling their own affairs. Thats changed since 2010, when Republicans took control of the state legislature for the first time in a century. GOP Governor Pat McCrory, the former Charlotte mayor who took office this year, has conspicuously kept his distance from whats happening in his hometown. The governor has stayed out of it because its a local matter that doesnt require the governors signature, says his communications director, Kim Genardo.
At least one Republican lawmaker has openly expressed a desire to dilute the power of mayors. There is a definite feeling that cities have too much power and want to control everything, State Senator Tom Apodaca told the Charlotte Observer. Mayor Foxx says theres a certain irony in watching conservative Republicans argue against local control. I think the legislature would be concerned if the feds started dictating to them, he says. Yet theyre doing to us what they claim they dislike.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-02/the-republican-power-grab-in-north-carolina
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The Republican Power Grab in North Carolina (Original Post)
octoberlib
May 2013
OP
young_at_heart
(3,769 posts)1. We progressives in Asheville are sickened by this
Since the Republicans took over it has been one nasty piece of legislation after the other....sickening what they have been doing. I HATE that I am now in Patrick McHenry's district.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)4. Same with Charlotte.
Whenever anyone says there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans anymore, I point to NC. Yes, there is.
Cha
(297,321 posts)2. thanks octoberlib.. Hope the sane people are able
to hold back the insane power grabbers.
A lot of times when it does happen.. they're over reaching so far that the pendulum comes back and bangs them squarely in their greedy head.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)3. God, I hope so. I feel like I'm living in an
authoritarian state. Thanks, Cha!
Cha
(297,321 posts)5. Poor thing! I lived in Asheville, NC in the '70s.. it was
so beautiful. Never forget my time there. But, we moved back to California and my son became a surfer and my daughter went to U of Oregon. Meant to be.